VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Physics By: ENGINEERING AND MEDICAL ENTRANCE

HITEN PARMAR VECTORS
7737003227; 7891333227 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Problem 1. A car travels 6 km towards north at an angle of 45° to the east and then travels distance of 4 km towards
north at an angle of 135° to the east. How far is the point from the starting point. What angle does the
straight line joining its initial and final position makes with the east
(a) 50 km and tan 1 (5) (b) 10 km and tan 1 ( 5 )
(c) 52 km and tan 1 (5) 52 km and tan 1 ( 5 )
(d)
1 N
Solution : (c) Net movement along x-direction Sx = (6 – 4) cos 45° î  2   2 km
2 4 km
6 km
1
Net movement along y-direction Sy = (6 + 4) sin 45° ˆj  10   5 2 km W
45o
E(X)
2 O

Net movement from starting point | s |  s x 2  s y 2   2   5 2 

2 2
= 52 km
Y  component 5 2 S (Y)
Angle which makes with the east direction tan   
X  component 2
1
   tan (5)
Problem 2. There are two force vectors, one of 5 N and other of 12 N at what angle the two vectors be added to get
resultant vector of 17 N, 7 N and 13 N respectively
(a) 0°, 180° and 90° (b) 0°, 90° and 180° (c) 0°, 90° and 90° (d) 180°, 0° and 90°
Solution : (a) For 17 N both the vector should be parallel i.e. angle between them should be zero.
For 7 N both the vectors should be antiparallel i.e. angle between them should be 180°
For 13 N both the vectors should be perpendicular to each other i.e. angle between them should be 90°
Problem 3. Given that A  B  C = 0 out of three vectors two are equal in magnitude and the magnitude of third
vector is 2 times that of either of the two having equal magnitude. Then the angles between vectors
are given by
(a) 30°, 60°, 90° (b) 45°, 45°, 90° (c) 45°, 60°, 90° (d) 90°, 135°, 135°
Solution : (d) From polygon law, three vectors having summation zero should form a closed polygon.

(Triangle) since the two vectors are having same magnitude and the third vector is 2
times that of either of two having equal magnitude. i.e. the triangle should be right angled
triangle C B
Angle between A and B,  = 90º
Angle between B and C,  = 135º 
Angle between A and C,  = 135º  A
Problem 4. If A  4ˆi  3ˆj and B  6ˆi  8 ˆj then magnitude and direction of A  B will be
(a) 5, tan 1 (3 / 4 ) (b) 5 5 , tan 1 (1 / 2) (c) 10 , tan 1 (5) (d) 25 , tan 1 (3 / 4 )
Solution : (b) A  B  4ˆi  3ˆj  6ˆi  8 ˆj  10ˆi  5 ˆj
5 1 1
| A  B |  (10 ) 2  (5) 2  5 5 tan       tan 1  
10 2 2
Problem 5. A truck travelling due north at 20 m/s turns west and travels at the same speed. The change in its velocity
be
(a) 40 m/s N–W (b) 20 2 m/s N–W (c) 40 m/s S–W (d) 20 2 m/s S–W
Solution : (d) From fig.
v1 =20 m/s
v 1  20 ˆj and v 2  20ˆi
v  v 2  v 1  20 (ˆi  ˆj) v2 =20 m/s

| v |  20 2 and direction   tan 1 (1)  45  i.e. S–W  O

v – v1

PHYSICS BY: HITEN PARMAR, (7737003227, 7891333227) Page 1 of 7

 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Problem 6. If the sum of two unit vectors is a unit vector, then magnitude of difference is
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 1 / 2 (d) 5
Solution : (b) Let n̂1 and n̂ 2 are the two unit vectors, then the sum is
n s  nˆ 1  nˆ 2 or n s2  n12  n 22  2n1 n 2 cos   1  1  2 cos 
Since it is given that n s is also a unit vector, therefore 1  1  1  2 cos 
1
or cos    or   120 
2
Now the difference vector is nd  n1  n 2 or nd2  n12  n22  2n1n2 cos   1  1  2 cos(120 )
 n d2  2  2(1 / 2)  2  1  3  nd  3
Problem 7. The sum of the magnitudes of two forces acting at point is 18 and the magnitude of their resultant is 12. If
the resultant is at 90° with the force of smaller magnitude, what are the, magnitudes of forces
(a) 12, 5 (b) 14, 4 (c) 5, 13 (d) 10, 8
Solution : (c) Let P be the smaller force and Q be the greater force then according to problem –
P + Q = 18 ......(i)
R  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos   12 .......(ii)
Q sin 
tan    tan 90  
P  Q cos 
 P  Q cos   0 .......(iii)
By solving (i), (ii) and (iii) we will get P  5, and Q  13
Problem 8. Two forces F1  1 N and F2  2 N act along the lines x = 0 and y = 0 respectively. Then the resultant of
forces would be
(a) ˆi  2ˆj (b) ˆi  ˆj (c) 3ˆi  2ˆj (d) 2ˆi  ˆj
Solution : (d) x = 0 means y-axis  F 1  ˆj
y = 0 means x-axis  F 2  2ˆi so resultant F  F1  F 2  2ˆi  ˆj
Problem 9. Let A  2ˆi  ˆj, B  3ˆj  kˆ and C  6ˆi  2kˆ value of A  2 B  3C would be
(a) 20ˆi  5 ˆj  4 kˆ (b) 20ˆi  5 ˆj  4 kˆ (c) 4ˆi  5 ˆj  20 kˆ (d) 5ˆi  4 ˆj  10 kˆ
Solution : (b) A  2 B  3C  (2ˆi  ˆj)  2(3ˆj  kˆ )  3(6ˆi  2kˆ )  2ˆi  ˆj  6 ˆj  2kˆ  18ˆi  6kˆ = 20ˆi  5 ˆj  4 kˆ
Problem 10. A vector a is turned without a change in its length through a small angle d  . The value of | a | and
a are respectively
(a) 0, a d (b) a d , 0 (c) 0, 0 (d) None of these
Solution : (b) From the figure | OA |  a and | OB |  a B

Also from triangle rule OB  OA  AB  a  | a |  AB

arc a A
Using angle   AB = a . d
radius d a
So | a |  a d
a means change in magnitude of vector i.e. | OB |  | OA |  a  a  0 O

So a  0
Problem 11. An object of m kg with speed of v m/s strikes a wall at an angle  and  
rebounds at the same speed and same angle. The magnitude of the change in
0 0
momentum of the object will be
(a) 2m v cos  (b) 2 m v sin (c) 0 (d) 2 m v y

Solution : (a) P 1  m v sin ˆi  m v cos  ˆj and P 2  m v sin  ˆi  m v cos  ˆj

 
So change in momentum P  P 2  P 1  2 m v cos  ˆj
|  P |  2 m v cos  x


Problem 12. If a particle moves 5 m in +x- direction. y
The displacement of the particle will be
(a) 5 j (b) 5 i (c) – 5 j (d) 5 k
x
Solution : (b) Magnitude of vector = 5 Unit vector in +x direction is î O
So displacement = 5 î

PHYSICS BY: HITEN PARMAR, (7737003227, 7891333227) Page 2 of 7

 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Problem 13. Position of a particle in a rectangular-co-ordinate system is (3, 2, 5). Then its position vector will be
(a) 3ˆi  5 ˆj  2kˆ (b) 3ˆi  2ˆj  5kˆ (c) 5ˆi  3ˆj  2kˆ (d) None of these
Solution : (b) If a point have coordinate (x, y, z) then its position vector OP  xˆi  yˆj  zkˆ .
Problem 14. If a particle moves from point P (2,3,5) to point Q (3,4,5). Its displacement vector be
(a) ˆi  ˆj  10 kˆ (b) ˆi  ˆj  5kˆ (c) ˆi  ˆj (d) 2ˆi  4 ˆj  6kˆ
Solution : (c) Displacement vector r  xˆi  yˆj  zkˆ  (3  2)ˆi  (4  3)ˆj  (5  5)kˆ  ˆi  ˆj

Problem 15. A force of 5 N acts on a particle along a direction making an angle of 60° with vertical. Its vertical
component be y
(a) 10 N (b) 3 N (c) 4 N (d) 5.2 N
The component of force in vertical direction will be F cos   F cos 60 

F cos 60o
Solution : (d)
1 60o
 5  2 .5 N
2 x
F sin 60o
Problem 16. If A  3ˆi  4 ˆj and B  7ˆi  24 ˆj, the vector having the same magnitude as B and parallel to A is
(a) 5ˆi  20 ˆj (b) 15ˆi  10 ˆj (c) 20ˆi  15 ˆj (d) 15ˆi  20 ˆj
Solution : (d) | B |  7 2  (24 )2  625  25
3ˆi  4 ˆj
Unit vector in the direction of A will be Aˆ 
5
 3ˆi  4 ˆj 
So required vector = 25    15ˆi  20 ˆj
5 
 
Problem 17. Vector A makes equal angles with x, y and z axis. Value of its components (in terms of magnitude of A )
will be
A A 3
(a) (b) (c) 3A (d)
3 2 A
Solution : (a) Let the components of A makes angles  ,  and  with x, y and z axis respectively then     
1
cos 2   cos 2   cos 2   1  3 cos 2   1  cos  
3
A
 A x  A y  A z  A cos  
3
Problem 18. ˆ ˆ ˆ
If A  2i  4 j  5k the direction of cosines of the vector A are
2 4 5 1 2 3 4 4
(a) , and (b) , and (c) , 0 and (d)
45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45
3 2 5
, and
45 45 45
2 4 5
Solution : (a) | A |  (2) 2  (4 ) 2  (5) 2  45  cos   , cos   , cos  
45 45 45
Problem 19. ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
The vector that must be added to the vector i  3 j  2k and 3i  6 j  7k so that the resultant vector is
a unit vector along the y-axis is
(a) 4ˆi  2ˆj  5kˆ (b)  4ˆi  2ˆj  5kˆ (c) 3ˆi  4 ˆj  5kˆ (d) Null vector
Solution : (b) Unit vector along y axis  ˆj so the required vector  ˆj  [(ˆi  3ˆj  2kˆ )  (3ˆi  6 ˆj  7kˆ )]   4ˆi  2ˆj  5kˆ
Problem 20. A  2ˆi  4 ˆj  4 kˆ and B  4ˆi  2ˆj  4 kˆ are two vectors. The angle between them will be
(a) 0° (b) 45° (c) 60° (d) 90°
. B a1 b1  a 2 b 2  a 3 b 3 24  4 2 4 4
Solution : (d) cos     0    cos 1 (0)    90 
| | .| B | | | .| B | | A | .| B |
Problem 21. If two vectors 2ˆi  3ˆj  kˆ and  4ˆi  6 ˆj  kˆ are parallel to each other then value of  be
(a) 0 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
Solution : (c) Let A  2ˆi  3ˆj  kˆ and B  4ˆi  6 ˆj  kˆ
a a a 2 3 1
A and B are parallel to each other 1  2  3 i.e.      2.
b1 b2 b3 4 6 

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 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Problem 22. In above example if vectors are perpendicular to each other then value of  be
(a) 25 (b) 26 (c) – 26 (d) – 25
Solution : (c) If A and B are perpendicular to each other then A . B  0  a1b1  a2 b 2  a3 b 3  0
So, 2(4)  3(6)  (1)()  0    26
Problem 23. If   2ˆi  3ˆj  kˆ and B  ˆi  3ˆj  4 kˆ then projection of A on B will be
3 3 3 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
13 26 26 13
Solution : (b) |  |  2  3  (1)  4  9  1  14
2 2 2
| B |  (1) 2  3 2  4 2  1  9  16  26
A.B 3
A . B  2 (1)  3  3  (1) (4 )  3 The projection of A on B  
| B| 26
Problem 24. A body, acted upon by a force of 50 N is displaced through a distance 10 meter in a direction making an
angle of 60° with the force. The work done by the force be
(a) 200 J (b) 100 J (c) 300 (d) 250 J
1
Solution : (d) W  F . S  FS cos   50  10  cos 60   50  10   250 J .
2
Problem 25. A particle moves from position 3ˆi  2ˆj  6kˆ to 14 ˆi  13 ˆj  9kˆ due to a uniform force of 4ˆi  ˆj  3kˆ N .
If the displacement in meters then work done will be
(a) 100 J (b) 200 J (c) 300 J (d) 250 J
Solution : (a) S  r2  r1
W  F . S  (4ˆi  ˆj  3kˆ ) . (11ˆi  11ˆj  15 kˆ )  (4  11  1  11  3  15 )  100 J.
Problem 26. If for two vector A and B , sum ( A  B) is perpendicular to the difference ( A  B) . The ratio of their
magnitude is
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) None of these
Solution : (a) ( A  B) is perpendicular to ( A  B) . Thus ( A  B) . ( A  B) = 0 or A 2  B . A  A . B  B 2  0
Because of commutative property of dot product A.B  B. A  A 2  B 2  0 or A  B
Thus the ratio of magnitudes A/B = 1
Problem 27. A force F   K(yˆi  xˆj) (where K is a positive constant) acts on a particle moving in the x-y plane.
Starting from the origin, the particle is taken along the positive x- axis to the point (a, 0) and then parallel
to the y-axis to the point (a, a). The total work done by the forces F on the particle is
(a)  2 Ka 2 (b) 2 Ka 2 (c)  Ka 2 (d) Ka 2
Solution : (c) For motion of the particle form (0, 0) to (a, 0) F   K(0 ˆi  a ˆj)  F   Kaˆj
Displacement r  (aˆi  0 ˆj)  (0 ˆi  0 ˆj)  aˆi
So work done from (0, 0) to (a, 0) is given by W  F . r   Kaˆj . aˆi  0
For motion (a, 0) to (a, a) F   K(aˆi  aˆj) and displacement r  (aˆi  aˆj)  (aˆi  0 ˆj)  aˆj
So work done from (a, 0) to (a, a) W  F . r   K(aˆi  aˆj). aˆj   Ka 2
So total work done   Ka 2
Problem 28. If A  3ˆi  ˆj  2kˆ and B  2ˆi  2ˆj  4 kˆ then value of | A  B | will be
(a) 8 2 (b) 8 3 (c) 8 5 (d) 5 8
ˆi ˆj kˆ
Solution : (b) AB  3 1 2  (1  4  2  2)ˆi  (2  2  4  3)ˆj  (3  2  1  2)kˆ  8ˆi  8 ˆj  8 kˆ
2 2 4

 Magnitude of A  B | A  B |  (8) 2  (8) 2  (8) 2 8 3

Problem 29. In above example a unit vector perpendicular to both A and B will be
1 ˆ ˆ ˆ 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ
(a)  (i  j  k ) (b)  (i  j  k ) (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
3 3
A B 8ˆi  8 ˆj  8 kˆ 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ
Solution : (c) nˆ    (i  j  k )
| A B| 8 3 3

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 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1 ˆ ˆ ˆ
There are two unit vectors perpendicular to both A and B they are nˆ   (i  j  k )
3
Problem 30. The vectors from origin to the points A and B are A  3ˆi  6 ˆj  2k and B  2ˆi  ˆj  2kˆ respectively. The
ˆ
area of the triangle OAB be
5 2 3 5
(a) 17 sq.unit (b) 17 sq.unit (c) 17 sq.unit (d) 17 sq.unit
2 5 5 3
Solution : (a) Given OA  a  3ˆi  6 ˆj  2kˆ and OB  b  2ˆi  ˆj  2kˆ
ˆi ˆj kˆ
 (a  b)  3 6 2  (12  2)ˆi  (4  6)ˆj  (3  12)kˆ
2 1 2

 10ˆi  10 ˆj  15 kˆ  | a  b |  10 2  10 2  15 2  425  5 17
1 5 17
Area of OAB  | ab|  sq.unit.
2 2
Problem 31. The angle between the vectors A and B is  . The value of the triple product A . (B  A ) is
(a) A 2 B (b) Zero (c) A 2 B sin (d) A 2 B cos 
Solution : (b) Let A .(B  A)  A . C
Here C  B  A Which is perpendicular to both vector A and B  A. C  0
Problem 32. The torque of the force F  (2ˆi  3ˆj  4 kˆ )N acting at the point r  (3ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ ) m about the origin be
(a) 6ˆi  6 ˆj  12 kˆ (b) 17ˆi  6 ˆj  13 kˆ (c)  6ˆi  6 ˆj  12 kˆ (d)  17ˆi  6 ˆj  13 kˆ
ˆi ˆj kˆ
Solution : (b)  r F  3 2 3  (2  4 )  (3  3) ˆi  (2  3)  (3  4 )ˆj  (3  3)  (2  2)kˆ
2 3 4

 17 ˆi  6 ˆj  13 kˆ
Problem 33. If A  B  C, then which of the following statements is wrong
(a) C  A (b) C  B (c) C  ( A  B) (d) C  ( A  B)
Solution : (d) From the property of vector product, we notice that C must be perpendicular to the plane formed by
vector A and B . Thus C is perpendicular to both A and B and ( A  B) vector also must lie in the
plane formed by vector A and B . Thus C must be perpendicular to ( A  B) also but the cross product
( A  B) gives a vector C which can not be perpendicular to itself. Thus the last statement is wrong.
Problem 34. If a particle of mass m is moving with constant velocity v parallel to x-axis in x-y plane as shown in fig. Its
angular momentum with respect to origin at any time t will be
(a) mvb kˆ (b)  mvb kˆ (c) mvb ˆi (d) mv ˆi
Solution : (b) We know that, Angular momentum
ˆi ˆj kˆ
y
L  r  p in terms of component becomes L  x y z
m
px py pz

As motion is in x-y plane (z = 0 and Pz  0 ), so L  k (xp y  yp x ) b

Here x = vt, y = b, p x  m v and p y  0 x

O
 L  k vt  0  b mv   mvb kˆ
Problem 35. Two trains along the same straight rails moving with constant speed 60 km/hr respectively toward each
other. If at time t  0 , the distance between them is 90 km, the time when they collide is
(a) 1 hr (b) 2 hr (c) 3 hr (d) 4 hr
Solution : (a) The relative velocity v rel.  60  (30 )  90 km / hr.
s rel. 90
Distance between the train s rel.  90 km ,  Time when they collide    1 hr.
v rel. 90

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 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Problem 36. Two cars are moving in the same direction with the same speed 30 km/hr. They are separated by a
distance of 5 km, the speed of a car moving in the opposite direction if it meets these two cars at an
interval of 4 minutes, will be
(a) 40 km/hr (b) 45 km/hr (c) 30 km/hr (d) 15 km/hr
Solution : (b) The two car (say A and B) are moving with same velocity, the relative velocity of one (say B) with respect
to the other A, v BA  v B  v A  v  v  0
So the relative separation between them (= 5 km) always remains the same.
Now if the velocity of car (say C) moving in opposite direction to A and B, is v C relative to ground then
the velocity of car C relative to A and B will be v rel.  v C  v
But as v is opposite to vC so v rel  v c  (30 )  (v C  30 ) km / hr.
d 4 5
So, the time taken by it to cross the cars A and B t    v C  45 km / hr.
v rel 60 v C  30
Problem 37. A steam boat goes across a lake and comes back (a) On a quite day when the water is still and (b) On a
rough day when there is uniform current so as to help the journey onward and to impede the journey
back. If the speed of the launch on both days was same, in which case it will complete the journey in
lesser time
(a) Case (a) (b) Case (b)
(c) Same in both (d) Nothing can be predicted
Solution : (b) If the breadth of the lake is l and velocity of boat is vb. Time in going and coming back on a quite day
l l 2l
tQ    .....(i)
vb vb vb
Now if va is the velocity of air- current then time taken in going across the lake,
l
t1  [as current helps the motion]
vb  va
l
and time taken in coming back t 2  [as current opposes the motion]
vb  va
2l
So t R  t1  t 2  .....(ii)
v b [1  (v a / v b ) 2 ]
tR 1 v a2
From equation (i) and (ii)   1 [as 1   1] i.e. t R  t Q
tQ [1  (v a / v b ) 2 ] v b2
i.e. time taken to complete the journey on quite day is lesser than that on rough day.
Problem 38. A man standing on a road hold his umbrella at 30° with the vertical to keep the rain away. He throws the
umbrella and starts running at 10 km/hr. He finds that raindrops are hitting his head vertically, the speed
of raindrops with respect to the road will be
(a) 10 km/hr (b) 20 km/hr (c) 30 km/hr (d) 40 km/hr
Solution : (b) When the man is at rest w.r.t. the ground, the rain comes to him at an angle 30° with the vertical. This is
the direction of the velocity of raindrops with respect to the ground.
Here v rg  velocity of rain with respect to the ground
v mg  velocity of the man with respect to the ground. 30o

and v rm  velocity of the rain with respect to the man,

We have v r g  v r m  v mg ......(i)
Taking horizontal components equation (i) gives v r g sin 30   v m g  10 km / hr
10
or v r g   20 km / hr
sin 30 
Problem 39. In the above problem, the speed of raindrops w.r.t. the moving man, will be
(a) 10 / 2 km / h (b) 5 km/h (c) 10 3 km / h (d) 5 / 3 km / h
3
Solution : (c) Taking vertical components equation (i) gives v rg cos 30   v rm  20  10 3 km / hr
2
Problem 40. Two cars are moving in the same direction with a speed of 30 km/h. They are separated from each other
by 5 km. Third car moving in the opposite direction meets the two cars after an interval of 4 minutes.
What is the speed of the third car
(a) 30 km/h (b) 35 km/h (c) 40 km/h (d) 45 km/h

PHYSICS BY: HITEN PARMAR, (7737003227, 7891333227) Page 6 of 7

 VECTORS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Solution : (d) Let v be the velocity of third car, then relative velocity of third car w.r.t. the either car is
v – (– 30) = (v+30) km/h.
Now ( + 30)  (4/60) = 5  v = 45 km/h
Problem 41. To a person, going eastward in a car with a velocity of 25 km/hr, a train appears to move towards north
with a velocity of 25 3 km/hr. The actual velocity of the train will be
(a) 25 km/hr (b) 50 km/hr (c) 5 km/hr (d) 5 3 km/hr
2
Solution : (a) v T  v TC
2
 v C2 = (25 3)  (25 ) 2 = 1875  625 = 2500 = 25 km/hr
Problem 42. A boat is moving with a velocity 3i + 4j with respect to ground. The water in the river is moving with a
velocity – 3i – 4j with respect to ground. The relative velocity of the boat with respect to water is
(a) 8j (b) – 6i – 8j (c) 6i +8j (d) 5 2
Solution : (c) Relative velocity = (3i + 4j) – (– 3i – 4j) = 6i + 8j

PHYSICS BY: HITEN PARMAR, (7737003227, 7891333227) Page 7 of 7